Smells bring back memories

And

Memories bring back smells

That antiseptic smell that lingers in the hallways of hospitals also lingers in the hallways of my mind

And that smell brings a flood of emotion

I love that smell

I hate that smell

That smell hurts my heart, it breaks my insides

It saved my daughter, it ruined her life

It stole years from my mother, it gave me more time with her I didn’t know I didn’t have

And I don’t have to smell it to remember, the memories themselves bring back the smell, no matter where I am

Even when I’m sitting in bed at night ready to fall asleep, the smell haunts me, it invades and steals my peace of mind

Goodnight, Smell, leave me alone tonight